[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6638663,"mediaKeyId","2623724-d53af0061cd70c7514c6af6f5980d284","parentId",2623724,"title","Board approves high‑school field trip, authorizes transportation negotiations and removes high‑school playground — all motions pass unanimously","audioSeconds",372,"startMs",4248000,"endMs",4620000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2623724-d53af0061cd70c7514c6af6f5980d284&start=4248&end=4620","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2623724-d53af0061cd70c7514c6af6f5980d284/thumbnail_4248000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6638663/Connecticut/Board-approves-highschool-field-trip-authorizes-transportation-negotiations-and-removes-highschool-playground-all-motions-pass-unanimously","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638663-273077fd8c3e280e96358bbba69d81e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157065&Signature=N1OCynx1obOuTT7y2BWJJ1xSPNNUZGEERfxRHEHl6R8~BvcflzMI6C-S6Vcjks72~-Mm90S7i~0iRA4amnLYPl04C94cdhSXVEjkPiuteYOT3IxhtMjkpJpgTb8NVtv5hoZAgk5TIUWXkWDLUNPyQiGJqsn-CZJbGl3kI~l8Qz1KseKIv2JziPhmpwUzAIyjuR6vTG6OHqvXnz0kpTIr-05q0eGRqB8CxlAm8MJTjyTWOhMNcgUhvev1r6Z4i0uOTnh8FGLBJS8ASaCfeeBC-fw9t0wR4KPFHTVWIiky1FAWbXoYHTYTggDP~kM4PHqSS3fdpy00GDvlqt~iVYGDxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","East Haven School District","date","2025-02-12T11:40:57.35Z","article","The East Haven Board of Education recorded three recorded votes at this meeting; all motions carried unanimously by roll call.

East Haven High School out‑of‑state field trip (approved 8–0)
The board approved the East Haven High School out‑of‑state field trip to the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City on Feb. 26. The motion to approve was moved and seconded in the meeting packet; the roll-call vote recorded eight yes votes: Miss DePalma, Miss DeLongo, Mister Hennessy, Miss Johnson, Miss Putney, Mister Stacy, Miss Torello and Doctor DeLucia. The transcript includes background materials and an invoice for bus costs in the meeting packet.

B & B Transportation contract extension (intent to negotiate) (approved 8–0)
The board authorized staff to issue a letter of intent to B & B Transportation to begin negotiations toward a contract extension. Staff clarified the vote was to express intent and to start negotiations, not to approve a final extension or a negotiated contract. The roll-call vote recorded eight yes votes: Miss DePalma, Miss DeLongo, Mister Hennessy, Miss Johnson, Miss Putney, Mister Stacy, Miss Torello and Doctor DeLucia. Board members and multiple parents and staff in the meeting praised B & B’s responsiveness and operational performance.

Removal of playground at East Haven High School (approved 8–0)
The board approved removal of a playground at East Haven High School to prepare the site for installation of a planned greenhouse adjacent to the school garden. The roll‑call vote recorded eight yes votes: Miss DePalma, Miss DeLongo, Mister Hennessy, Miss Johnson, Miss Putney, Mister Stacy, Miss Torello and Doctor DeLucia. Staff said the playground’s slides were cracked and the area must be cleared for installers to prepare the site.

Vote details and context
- All three motions passed by roll call with identical tallies of eight in favor and no recorded dissent or abstention. The transcript shows the motions were moved, seconded and then approved by roll call.
- For the transportation item, staff emphasized that the vote was to open negotiations and to send an intent letter to the vendor, not to finalize contract terms.

Who voted (roll call list from the meeting): Miss DePalma, Miss DeLongo, Mister Hennessy, Miss Johnson, Miss Putney, Mister Stacy, Miss Torello, Doctor DeLucia.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","1/14/25 East Haven Board of Education Mtgs.","oneSentenceSummary","At its meeting the East Haven Board of Education voted unanimously to approve an out‑of‑state field trip to New York, to authorize staff to begin negotiations for a contract extension with B & B Transportation, and to remove a high‑school playground to make way for a planned greenhouse installation.","taxTitle","East Haven School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",58197,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6638668,"East Haven High School awarded $86,000 grant to build year‑round greenhouse; middle school receives after‑school grant",97,3793000,3890000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2623724-d53af0061cd70c7514c6af6f5980d284&start=3793&end=3890","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2623724-d53af0061cd70c7514c6af6f5980d284/thumbnail_3793000.jpg","/articles/6638668/Connecticut/East-Haven-High-School-awarded-86000-grant-to-build-yearround-greenhouse-middle-school-receives-afterschool-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638668-857117fe85ddae593d5e5e74de2180b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157065&Signature=aDro2Z212OXAZ7bar-MyGclWDktpe-5hJxp-nIHKrAWurMLTM7EtvmcRcnuRSBK1iqdBTCaH0xfoIzF8CInI4xOKzBOEjBK4Qq6q0CsfLFWBKGOj5eh24wiq7ySxwbcRHgAaZVtrxlTUxrCgUpcEdfg2gHSZJRxsKxkdYwpFBIpuXCWnS-0Am~WKCoknoiMxhFF-jMm9VhhWQAjiHnCjtorri9tXrZN0qTJVoYkFMZqclXfDHDGFpQeaUrFoMO3Dg4R7rhCIQBCPSXD7LGGQEZ4hjf8fxYB51DzH7uTHpweByiYFDkiXxUDm-Ha4f8rV-d54We8OD6hmj7ZHlPxLag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An assistant superintendent for the East Haven School District told the board that two recently submitted grant proposals have been fully funded: a middle-school after‑school program and an $86,000 grant to build a year‑round greenhouse at the high school.

“We submitted a grant proposal to put a fully functioning greenhouse out outside near the garden. It would be year round, with irrigation and heating, and it's fairly large. It was an 86,000 grant proposal that was fully funded,” the assistant superintendent said.

District staff said the greenhouse will link to the high school’s existing garden, be available year round with irrigation and heating, and involve CTE teachers and transition/life-skills special‑education students. Staff said the grant comes from a private organization and is not highly restricted, allowing quicker access to funds and faster implementation. The assistant superintendent said work could begin “very, very quickly.”

Why it matters: staff said the greenhouse would expand hands‑on CTE and life‑skills instruction and provide a year‑round learning space that can support vocational pathways and special‑education transition programming.

Who spoke: an assistant superintendent (name not specified in the transcript) reported the awards; CTE teachers and special‑education staff were cited as participants. No formal board action on the grants was recorded in this meeting’s transcript.","District staff said two recent grant awards fully funded an $86,000 greenhouse at East Haven High School and a middle-school after‑school program; officials said the projects will begin quickly and include CTE and special‑education participants.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6638674,"East Haven School District presents $59.3 million proposed budget, cites salaries, special education and medical as primary drivers",2775,0,2775000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2623724-d53af0061cd70c7514c6af6f5980d284&start=0&end=2775","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2623724-d53af0061cd70c7514c6af6f5980d284/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6638674/Connecticut/East-Haven-School-District-presents-593-million-proposed-budget-cites-salaries-special-education-and-medical-as-primary-drivers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638674-3ace6eed13815d4c0a727a8df873d8df/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157065&Signature=M7p7Px-XOSiq~mKUvwIka6~3~0JU9sSkWhhGZXdoOERj5ettcnX~P9VJIwO9WqPa~PYSopUN3WixGBRcL0V3JURADiLpjDR8hV5WvScBT2A14R6XBAdmcL2QTO8-cXY~4bfXvhu-VaEydoWIj-Sb2dNTcXCqJD5hXBGQuXIOn8B92NpW54Aet34JrpfJhvUcI-M4wZ7HusCeiipYkOdsf-lLCflYbwfUXXNonWLKQSdfBOinFb6wFEflP54ro3lpq4OkMkJil8TvO23MWJulS6HLzfArdaa~4wt5~5GOD8nFBNQqap7fLTRjxFMaPxB99r-Zqmlh9CGzjcXvjYRIjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Erica, a district staff member presenting the budget, told the East Haven Board of Education that the district is proposing an operating budget totaling about $59.3 million for 2025–26.

“The team worked really, really hard to put together this this budget in a manner that is, comprehensible yet supportive of our district's needs,” Erica said, and described the budget as “deeply rooted and grounded” in the district’s belief statements and priorities.

District staff said three main drivers are raising costs: contractual salaries, special-education tuition and transportation for outplaced students, and medical insurance. RJ, a district staff member responsible for budget detail, summarized those drivers and the district’s approach to estimates, saying the contractual salaries line alone is a fixed obligation. “Same format as last year, our contractual salaries are $1,900,000,” RJ said, referring to the contractual-salary change presented in the budget package.

Why it matters: staff told the board the district’s medical reserve has been exhausted and that state reimbursement for special-education excess costs has become unpredictable, increasing risk to the local operating fund. In the presentation, staff said that the district’s medical reserve is “0” and that projected medical claims are significantly higher than in recent years.

Key figures and context provided in the presentation

- Proposed operating request: about $59.3 million (presented by district staff as the total request).
- Education Cost Sharing (ECS) entitlement (state): $20,005,009.57, which staff said is flat from last year.
- Total staff: 583 employees (311 certified, 272 non‑certified).
- Current enrollment (2024–25): just over 3,000 students; staff cited a projected enrollment of about 3,056 but noted transient rates make projections uncertain.
- Multilingual learners (2024–25): 15% districtwide; several schools have higher concentrations (Tuttle ~33%, Ferrara 25%).
- Students with disabilities (2024–25): 19% districtwide; Deer Run cited at 36% (reflecting a housed program), other schools ranged from 15–20%.
- Outplaced students: decreased from 74 in an earlier period to 51 in the current year; staff said reductions in outplacements did not proportionately reduce costs because private tuition and transportation rose.
- State excess-cost reimbursement: staff said they expected a higher payment but received notification on Jan. 6 reducing the excess-cost allocation by 40%; staff called the reduction “a very fluid number.”
- Medical insurance: staff presented past-year claims near $8.7–9.0 million and said current-year claims were estimated at $10.3–10.4 million; staff said the district needs to absorb roughly $6.6 million in operational funds toward a projected $9.5 million in claims after employee and grant contributions.

Special-education detail and budgeting choices

Staff described efforts to bring students back into district programs when appropriate and to build internal capacity to reduce outsourcing over time. RJ noted that hiring an internal BCBA (board certified behavior analyst) increased salary line items in the first year but was intended as longer-term savings compared with outsourcing.

On outplacement costs, staff presented comparative tables showing that when 74 students were outplaced the general fund impact was around $6.3 million (including transportation and tuition); with 51 outplaced students the current projected general fund impact was presented at about $5.4 million. Staff said the district budgeted more conservatively for expected state reimbursement but that the recent 40% reduction in excess-cost funding creates a shortfall.

Medical reserve and near-term steps

Staff told the board the district’s medical reserve account is now depleted. That depletion, combined with higher-than-expected claims, led the administration to place a budget freeze earlier in the school year and to present a larger operating request for 2025–26. RJ said the district had proposed phased approaches in prior years that would have spread the medical impact over multiple cycles, but those proposals were not implemented and the reserves were used instead.

Budget framing and next steps

Staff said the proposed budget seeks to prioritize classroom and student-facing investments (literacy, math, interventions, CTE pathways), talent recruitment and retention, health and wellness funding for staff, and technology leases for predictable refresh cycles. Erica told the board the district wanted the board to understand the scope and timing of the request and said the budget must be provided to the town by Feb. 1; staff asked the board to plan to consider approval at its next meeting so the document can be transmitted on time.

Who spoke: Erica (district staff presenter), RJ (district staff budget lead) and other district staff referenced in the presentation. Multiple board members asked procedural questions during and after the presentation; roll call attendance included Miss DePalma, Miss DeLongo, Mister Hennessy, Miss Johnson, Miss Putney, Mister Stacy, Miss Torello and Doctor DeLucia.

What the board faces: Staff emphasized two risks — volatility in state special-education reimbursement and unusually high medical claims — and presented the proposed budget as an effort to maintain programs while replacing depleted reserves. The board did not take a final vote on the operating budget in this session; staff requested the board review the binder materials, submit scenario requests in advance if possible, and be prepared to act before the Feb. 1 town deadline.","District staff presented a proposed 2025–26 operating budget of about $59.3 million, telling the board three main cost drivers are contractual salaries, rising special-education tuition/transportation and medical insurance claims; staff said the district's medical reserve is depleted and state special-education reimbursement is uncertain.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves high‑school field trip, authorizes transportation negotiations and removes high‑school playground — all motions pass unanimously

East Haven High School awarded $86,000 grant to build year‑round greenhouse; middle school receives after‑school grant

East Haven School District presents $59.3 million proposed budget, cites salaries, special education and medical as primary drivers